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What is polio?

Polio (also known as poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious
disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Children younger
than 5 years old are more likely to contract the virus than any other group.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 200
polio infections will result in permanent paralysis. However, thanks to the
global polio eradication initiative in 1988, the following regions are now certified
polio-free:

Americas

Europe

Western Pacific

Southeast Asia

The polio vaccine was developed in 1953 and made available
in 1957. Since then cases of polio have dropped in United States.

But polio is still persistent in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
Nigeria. Eliminating polio will benefit the world in terms of health and
economy. The eradication of polio can save at least $40–50 billion over the
next 20 years.

What are the symptoms of polio?

It’s estimated that 95 to 99 percent of people who contract
poliovirus are asymptomatic. This is known as subclinical polio. Even without
symptoms, people infected with poliovirus can still spread the virus and cause
infection in others.

Non-paralytic polio

Signs and symptoms of non-paralytic polio can last from one
to 10 days. These signs and symptoms can be flu-like and can include:

fever

sore throat

headache

vomiting

fatigue

meningitis

Non-paralytic polio is also known as abortive polio.

Paralytic polio

About 1 percent of polio cases can develop into paralytic
polio. Paralytic polio leads to paralysis in the spinal cord (spinal polio),
brainstem (bulbar polio), or both (bulbospinal polio).

Initial
symptoms are similar to non-paralytic polio. But after a week, more severe
symptoms will appear. These symptoms include:

loss of reflexes

severe spasms and muscle pain

loose and floppy limbs, sometimes on just one side of
the body

sudden paralysis, temporary or permanent

deformed limbs, especially the hips, ankles, and feet

It’s
rare for full paralysis to develop. Less than 1 percent
of all polio cases will result in permanent paralysis. In 5–10 percent of the
polio paralysis cases, the virus will attack the muscles that help you breathe
and cause death.

Post-polio syndrome

It’s possible for polio to return even after you’ve
recovered. This can occur after 15 to 40 years. Common symptoms of post-polio
syndrome (PPS) are:

continuing muscle and joint weakness

muscle pain that gets worse

becoming easily exhausted or fatigued

muscle wasting, also called muscle atrophy

trouble breathing and swallowing

sleep apnea, or sleep-related breathing problems

low tolerance of cold temperatures

new onset of weakness in previously uninvolved muscles

depression

trouble with concentration and memory

Talk to your doctor if you’ve had polio and are starting to see
these symptoms. It’s estimated that 25
to 50 percent of people who survived polio will get PPS. PPS can’t be
caught by others having this disorder. Treatment involves management strategies
to improve your quality of life and reduce pain or fatigue.

How
does the poliovirus infect someone?

As a highly contagious virus, polio transmits through contact
with infected feces. Objects like toys that have come near infected feces can
also transmit the virus. Sometimes it can transmit through a sneeze or a cough,
as the virus lives in the throat and intestines. This is less common.

People living in areas with limited access to running water
or flush toilets often contract polio from drinking water contaminated by infected
human waste. According to the Mayo
Clinic, the virus is so contagious that anyone living with someone who has
the virus can catch it too.

Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems — such
as those who are HIV-positive — and young children are the most susceptible to
the poliovirus.

If you have not been vaccinated, you can increase your risk
of contracting polio when you:

travel to an area that has had a recent polio outbreak

take care of or live with someone infected with polio

handle a laboratory specimen of the virus

have your tonsils removed

have extreme stress or strenuous activity after
exposure to the virus

How do doctors
diagnose polio?

Your doctor will diagnose polio by looking at your symptoms.
They’ll perform a physical examination and look for impaired reflexes, back and
neck stiffness, or difficulty lifting your head while lying flat.

Labs will also test a sample of your throat, stool, or
cerebrospinal fluid for the poliovirus.

How
do doctors treat polio?

Doctors can only treat the symptoms while the infection runs
its course. But since there’s no cure, the best way to treat polio is to
prevent it with vaccinations.

The most common supportive treatments include:

bed rest

painkillers

antispasmodic drugs to relax muscles

antibiotics for urinary tract infections

portable ventilators to help with breathing

physical therapy or corrective braces to help with
walking

heating pads or warm towels to ease muscle aches and
spasms

physical therapy to treat pain in the affected muscles

physical therapy to address breathing and pulmonary
problems

pulmonary rehabilitation to increase lung endurance

In advanced cases of leg weakness, you may need a wheelchair
or other mobility device.

Polio vaccinations around the world

From the history of polio to now

Polio is a highly contagious virus that can result in spinal
cord and brainstem paralysis. It most commonly affects children under 5 years
old. Cases of polio peaked in the United States in the 1952 with 57,623
reported cases. Since the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act, the United States
has been polio-free since 1979.

While many other countries are also certified polio-free,
the virus is still active in countries that haven’t started immunization campaigns.
According to WHO,
even one confirmed case of polio puts children in all countries at risk.

Afghanistan is set to start its immunization campaign for
early October and November of 2016. National and Subnational Immunization Days
are planned and ongoing for countries in West Africa. You can stay up to date
with case breakdowns on The Global
Polio Eradication Initiative’s website.